Mower, ground maintenance system and ground maintenance method

Abstract

A ground maintenance system having a mower that can include a first traveling unit which can travel on a ground, a first operating unit which can be joined to the first traveling unit and include a blade which can mow grass on the ground, and a guide member provided in front of the first traveling unit. While the first traveling unit travels forward, objects on the ground (for example, balls) in contact with the guide member can move along the guide member. The objects can move laterally and rearward away from the mower. In some embodiments, the ground maintenance system can further include a collector, attached to or separate from the mower, that can collect the objects on the ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mower comprising
 a traveling unit configured to travel on a ground in a travel direction,   a first operating unit joined to the traveling unit and comprising a blade to mow grass on the ground, and   a guide member provided in front of at least one of the traveling unit and the first operating unit,   wherein the guide member is horizontally inclinable to the at least one of the traveling unit and the first operating unit,   wherein the guide member is horizontally rotatable to the at least one of the traveling unit and the first operating unit,   wherein the guide member comprises a right guide member including a front right end and rear right end in the travel direction; and a left guide member including a front left end and a rear left end in the travel direction,   wherein each of the right guide member and the left guide member is horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis on each of the right guide member and the left guide member relative to the at least one of the traveling unit and the first operating unit,   wherein the right guide member and the left guide member are configured to horizontally rotate in opposite directions with the front right end and the front left end coming in contact with each other while the rear right end and the rear left end move apart from each other,   wherein while the traveling unit travels forward, the guide member is configured to move an object on the ground that is in contact with the guide member along the guide member and laterally and rearward away from the mower.   
     
     
         2 . The mower according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the guide member extends in a lateral direction of the mower, and   while the traveling unit travels forward, the object in contact with the guide member is configured to move along the guide member in the lateral direction.   
     
     
         3 . The mower according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the traveling unit comprises right and left wheels, and   the guide member projects past outer-ends of the wheels in the lateral direction.   
     
     
         4 . The mower according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the traveling unit and the first operating unit are separate from each other, and the first operating unit is detachably joined to the traveling unit.   
     
     
         5 . The mower according to  claim 4 , comprising
 a second operating unit configured to collect and receive the object on the ground, wherein   the second operating unit is joinable to the traveling unit from which the first operating unit is removed.   
     
     
         6 . The mower according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the guide member is joined to at least one of the traveling unit and the first operating unit and is horizontally rotatable to the at least one unit, and   while the traveling unit travels forward, the object in contact with the guide member is adjustable in a moving direction by inclining the guide member to the at least one unit.   
     
     
         7 . A ground maintenance system comprising
 a mower and a collector,   
       wherein
 the mower comprises
 a first traveling unit, 
 a first operating unit comprising a blade configured to mow grass on a ground, and 
 a first guide member provided in front of at least one of the first traveling unit and the first operating unit, 
 
 wherein the first guide member is horizontally inclinable to the at least one of the traveling unit and the first operating unit, 
 wherein the first guide member comprises a first right guide member including a first front right end and first rear right end in the travel direction; and a first left guide member including a first front left end and a first rear left end in the travel direction, 
 wherein each of the first right guide member and the first left guide member is horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis on each of the first right guide member and the first left guide member relative to the at least one of the first traveling unit and the first operating unit, 
 wherein the first right guide member and the first left guide member are configured to horizontally rotate in opposite directions with the first front right end and the first front left end coming in contact with each other while the first rear right end and the first rear left end move apart from each other, 
 
       wherein
 while the first traveling unit travels forward, the first guide member is configured to move an object on the ground that is in contact with the first guide member along the first guide member and laterally and rearward away from the mower, and 
 the collector comprises
 a second traveling unit, 
 a second operating unit configured to collect and receive the object on the ground, and 
 a second guide member provided in front of at least one of the second traveling unit and the second operating unit, and rotatable or slidable horizontally to at least one of the second traveling unit and the second operating unit, 
 
 wherein 
 the second guide member comprises a second right guide member and a second left guide member, 
 the second right guide member and the second left guide member are apart from each other at a space interval, 
 the mower and the collector are configured to travel on the ground simultaneously or sequentially. 
 
     
     
         8 . The ground maintenance system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the first traveling unit and the first operating unit are separate from each other,   the first operating unit is detachably joined to the first traveling unit,   the second traveling unit and the second operating unit are separate from each other, and   the second operating unit is detachably joined to the second traveling unit.   
     
     
         9 . The ground maintenance system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 while the second traveling unit travels forward, the object in contact with the second guide member is configured to move along the second guide member.   
     
     
         10 . A ground maintenance method using a mower and a collector, comprising:
 having the mower and the collector travel on a ground simultaneously or sequentially,   collecting an object on the ground by the collector and receiving the object into a container of the collector,   mowing grass on the ground by a blade of the mower, and
 moving the object along a first guide member and laterally and rearward away from the mower, wherein the first guide member is horizontally inclinable to the mower, wherein the first guide member is provided on the front-end of the mower in a traveling direction of the mower while the object on the ground contacts with the guide member, 
   wherein the mower comprises
 a first traveling unit, and 
 a first operating unit, 
   wherein the first guide member comprises a first right guide member including a first front right end and first rear right end in the travel direction; and a first left guide member including a first front left end and a first rear left end in the travel direction,   wherein each of the first right guide member and the first left guide member is horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis on each of the first right guide member and the first left guide member relative to the at least one of the first traveling unit and the first operating unit,   wherein the first right guide member and the first left guide member are configured to horizontally rotate in opposite directions with the first front right end and the first front left end coming in contact with each other while the first rear right end and the first rear left end move apart from each other, and   the collector comprises
 a second traveling unit, 
 a second operating unit, and 
 a second guide member provided in front of at least one of the second traveling unit and the second operating unit, and rotatable or slidable horizontally to at least one of the second traveling unit and the second operating unit, 
   wherein   the second guide member comprises a second right guide member and a second left guide member,   the second right guide member and the second left guide member are apart from each other at a space interval.   
     
     
         11 . The mower according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the traveling unit includes a body, and   the guide member is provided along a side of the body of the traveling unit.   
     
     
         12 . The mower according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the right and the left guide members present a continuous surface where their front ends meet, and   the rear right and left ends of the right and the left guide members extend rearward along a side of the mower.   
     
     
         13 . The mower according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the first right and first left guide members are horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis on each of the two guide members. 
     
     
         14 . The mower according to  claim 12 , wherein the right and the left guide members are curved arcs. 
     
     
         15 . The mower according to  claim 12 , wherein the right and the left guide members are straight. 
     
     
         16 . The ground maintenance system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the first traveling unit includes a body, and   the first guide member is provided along a side of the body of the first traveling unit.   
     
     
         17 . The ground maintenance system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the first rear right and left ends of the first right and the left guide members extend rearward along a side of the mower.   
     
     
         18 . The ground maintenance method using a mower and a collector according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first traveling unit includes a body, and   the first guide member is provided along a side of the body of the first traveling unit.   
     
     
         19 . The ground maintenance method using a mower and a collector according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first right and the left guide members present a continuous surface where their first front right and left ends meet, and   the rear right and left ends of the first right and the first left guide members extend rearward along a side of the mower.